He was, although he wasn't alone back then. Test cricket was often pretty attritional.

Often, though not always. Tavare actually played in the Ashes series that contained the miracle of Headingley (Botham scoring 149 off 148 balls).

In the same series (but 2 tests later) Tavare made a second innings 79 - off 289 balls.

Quite a contrast with Botham! (England won that test, btw, despite Australia scoring 400 in the 4th innings...)

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Jan 7, 17:29:09